VMware Communities : Thread List - ESX Server 3.x Configuration Archives

The Nursery

jasonboche — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 01:43:42 GMT

This one has been puzzling me since the VI3 beta.
I thought I'd start a topic on the ESX Nursery since no nursery topics exist in:
+Server and Datacenter Products forum search
+Entire VMware.com website search
+Google search

What it is?

What it is used for?

How it should be tuned in the VIC or should it be left alone?

Jas

Host agent not reachable

Pietman — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:02:14 GMT

Hi
I'm quite new to this forum and VMware so please bear with me.
We have 5 blade servers connecting to 2 EMC Cx-300's. First blade is running 2003 server with Virtual Center 2, the rest is running ESX server 3.

The problem is we cannot connect the storage to the blades. With enterprise storage , under hosts it shows the host blades but says "Host agent not reachable".

What needs to be loaded on each side?

Please help
Regards

NTPDate Failure When Starting NTPD

TimothyGaray — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:21:24 GMT

This is really driving me crazy. I know it has to be something really simple but I can't see it.

I'm running ESX Server 3.0.1 I've enabled the NTPD but it doesn't actually do anything as far as keeping up with the time.

If I:
service ntpd start

This is what I see:
ntpd: Synchronizing with time server: [FAILED]
Starting ntpd: [ OK ]

If I:
tail -f /var/log/messages

This is what I see:
Feb 21 19:12:52 Regula1 ntpd[1723]: ntpd exiting on signal 15
Feb 21 19:12:53 Regula1 ntpd: ntpd shutdown succeeded
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpdate[1831]: can't find host 65.17.128.4
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpdate[1831]: no servers can be used, exiting
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd: failed
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd[1835]: ntpd 4.1.2@1.892 Tue Feb 24 06:32:25 EST 200
4 (1)
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd[1835]: precision = 63 usec
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd[1835]: kernel time discipline status 0040
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd[1835]: frequency initialized 0.000 from /var/lib/nt
p/drift
Feb 21 19:12:58 Regula1 ntpd: ntpd startup succeeded

It doesn't matter what I put in the ntp.conf and step-tickers files (hostname, IP address, Internet address or local LAN address), it always says it can't find the host.

If I:
watch "ntpq -p"

This is what I see:
Every 2s: ntpq -p Wed Feb 21 19:16:33 2007

remote refid st t when poll reach delay offset jitter
==============================================================================
ntp1.wcoil.com ntp-0.gw.uiuc.e 3 u 18 64 17 1.249 50.679 3.219

With ntpd stopped, if I:
ntpdate 65.17.128.4

This is what I see:
[root@Regula1 etc]# ntpdate 65.17.128.4
21 Feb 19:17:34 ntpdate[1896]: adjust time server 65.17.128.4 offset 0.042484 sec

So ntpdate to that IP address does work by itself. It just won't work with ntpd when it starts up. I also tried setting the time off by 10 minutes and ntpd doesn't ever fix it.

Here is my ntp.conf:
server 65.17.128.4
driftfile /var/lib/ntp/drift

Here is my drift:
0.0

Here is my step-tickers:
65.17.128.4

That's all. I've run:
esxcfg-firewall --enableService ntpClient

So why does everyone else's ntpd startup and run just fine but mine doesn't? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any help!

-Tim

VI3 VM on ESX 2.5.4?

dj — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 13:32:14 GMT

Ok, here is the situation...we have a mixed (and completely separate) environment at the moment. One side is VI3, the other is ESX 2.5.4.

We have a VM in the VI3 environment that needs to be moved to the ESX 2.x environment and brought online there. We don't mind doing a copy of the VMDK and then setting-up the VM itself (config) manually on the 2.x side, but obviously the files are in different formats.

Is there a way to essentially back-rev a VM in this manner? It would, of course, be moving from a vmfs3 partition to a vmfs2 partition in the process of the copy as well...

Thanks.

VMFS

Spiker — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:40:28 GMT

Anyone point me in the direction of a good technical documents on VMFS3 - I can only locate small pdf files giving a very general overview of the file system and not how it actually works.

Thanks

ESX Service Console Configuration files

Jim W — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 07:38:39 GMT

What configuration files can be copied (backup) off to preserve the ESX server's setting, i.e. in a case of we need to re-install the ESX server and want to restore the ESX server's original configurations including network IP, Virtual Switches, etc. by copying back these files?

ESX Very long to start while service console available

zemotard — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:15:23 GMT

Hi,
My esx server is very long to start (more 10 min) after reboot.
During this time, the service console is enable, but no connection with Virtual Infrastructure Client (Connection failed).
The web console is too unavailable.
Could you tell me why ? What can I do to improve reboot time ?
My ESX server owns 2 HBA card connected to SAN Netapp.

Regards.

Copying files onto ESX box

Oatcake — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:04:31 GMT

OK. I am a complete newbie to ESX and Linux in any form, so excuse me if this is a daft question. Yesterday I migrated all my VMWare Server machines to ESX quite succesfully using the VMWAre Converter tool. I now want to put my ISO images on the server but I haven't a clue how to get them from my Windows machine to the ESX box? I acn browse my two datastores using the VIClient, but thats it, just browse them.

Any help would be much appreciated.

How to move a VM from one ESX to another?

firefighter99 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:53:24 GMT

Hello,
I'm new with ESX Server (Starter Edition) and don't know how to add a VM in our ESX Server.
We got a virtual machine from one of our customers (ESX) and I would like to import it into our ESX Server. However, I don't see an option to import via the Virtual Infrastructure Client. That's why I uploaded the whole directory from the VM via WINSCP into the home dir, change the owner to root and copied the directory into our storage vmfs where the other VMs are being stored.
Unfortunatly I didn't see this new VM in the Inventary. Does this VM needs to be registered somehow, or how can this import be done?

PS: Using the free VM Converter didn't work either. I assume it can only handle VMServer images and not ESX images.

ESX3 & VC2 Patches (Advice)

GlenMarquis2 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:26:51 GMT

Hello,

Does anyone know whether you should -

Install 'General Patches' regardless of whether you encountered the issue?

Install 'Critical Patches' regardless?

Thanks.

VMWare ESX 3.0.1's iSCSI initiator (and CISCO reference)

natedev — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:19:49 GMT

I've heard that the iSCSI Initiator support in ESX 3.0 and 3.0.1 is based on the CISCO iSCSI Driver. Does anyone know what version it was derived from? I'm going to be doing some testing with D-Link's new xStack DSN-3200 and wanted to get some of that info to their support organization ahead of time.

Thanks in advance,
Nate

Fibre channel access very slow

troubadix2004 — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 17:01:43 GMT

Hello,

today I would migrate from ISCSI (1GBIT) to Fibre Channel (4GBit).

I logged in as root and go to /vmfs/volumes/<fibrechannel>.

When I test performance it seems very slow:

1.) fibre channel on ESX

[root@bladesls1 backup]# time dd if=/dev/zero of=test.dat bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out

real 1m5.671s
user 0m0.000s
sys 0m0.080s

2.) ISCSI on ESX

[root@bladesls1 Storage on ISCSI]# time dd if=/dev/zero of=test.dat bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out

real 0m46.012s
user 0m0.000s
sys 0m0.050s

3.) Fibre channel on different Blade , but same array:

bladeln1:/development/bladeln1 # time dd if=/dev/zero of=test2.dat bs=1M count=100
100+0 records in
100+0 records out

real 0m0.271s
user 0m0.004s
sys 0m0.253s

The Hardware is a blade Center. Fibre Channel HBA are Qlogic QLA2422 (taken from Details of HBA).

ESX 3.0.1 Server

Ho can I improve the performance? Should I reformat the store in VI Client?
Are tuning settings available in ESX ?.

Here are some more details:

cat /proc/vmware/version
VMware ESX Server 3.0.1 [Releasebuild-32039], built on Sep 25 2006
vmkernel build: 32039, vmkcall: 45.0 vmnix interface: 60.0 driver interface: 7.0 kernel: 55.0
vmnixmod build: 32039, interface: 60.0
vmnix kernel interface: 55.0
vmksysinfo version: 5325b8d6655bb6e28fe6c15313016c86
Loadable module version info:
vmkernelID: 0xe6f0059
vmkapimod build 32039: Built on: Sep 25 2006
vmklinux build 32039: Built on: Sep 25 2006
mptscsi_2xx build 32039: 2.06.34.13
qla2300_707 build 32039: 7.07.04
tg3 build 32039: tg3.c:v3.43b (Oct 24, 2005)

tcpip build 32039: Built on: Sep 25 2006
cosShadow build 32039: Built on: Sep 25 2006
migration build 32039: protocol: 5.0 vmk interface: 3.0
lvmdriver build 32039: 3.16, built on: Sep 25 2006
nfsclient build 32039: Built on: Sep 25 2006
vmfs3 build 32039: 4.21, built on: Sep 25 2006
vmfs2 build 32039: 2.52, built on: Sep 25 2006
iscsi_mod build

qla2300_707 build 32039: 7.07.04

Regards

Axel

Message was edited by:
troubadix2004

ESX 3.0.1 patches

grex827 — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:36:04 GMT

Of the 14 or so patches released so far for 3.0.1, which ones do I need to install to cover them all. Is the latest patch inclusive of all previous releases?

There is no more space for the redo log of...

squeez2112 — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:34:50 GMT

Ok, I have a Redhat linux Vm running on ESX 3.01. The VM is configured with 8 virtual hard drives of varying size, all residing on the SAN (~900GB size, ~800GB free). This morning I took a snap shot of the machine, and this afternoon the machine hung with an error message on the VIC:

"There is no more space for the redo log of rdbs_2-000001.vmdk. You may be able to continue this session by freeing disk space on the relevant partition, and clicking Retry. Otherwise, click Abort to terminate this session."

Machine wouldn't boot and couldn't get it to do anything. I deleted the snap shot using the Snap Shot Manager in the end and it would boot again, but some of the stuff done during Snap Shot's existence didn't make it back into the original files when committed back.

What happened?!

Configuring iSCSI blade 25p

mldmld — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:13:06 GMT

Hi,
I trying to do the stuff, but it doesn't work.

I want to use 2 dedicated network adapter of the blade for the iscsi traffic.
There is also 2 dedicated network adapter on the target.
I used 2 crossed links to connect target and initiators.
On the target, I restrited the iscsi protocol on the 2 dedicated network adapters.

Before, I make the stuff running with Linux RH4. Then I installed ESX to compare performance in hardware and virtual environment.

ESX :
At install time, I configure The Service console and VMkernel on vmnic0 on virtual switch vSwitch0. IP Adress 10.231.226.127 and 10.231.226.68 for the VMkernel

I added 2 virtual switches
On ESX, Configuration tab, Networking, I added networking

vSwitch1 connected to vmnic1 using adress 10.0.0.3 named VMKernel2
vSwitch2 connected to vmnic2 using adress 10.0.0.4 named VMKernel3

Then, on Storage Adapters, I select iSCSI Software Adapter vmhba40, properties. I enabled Software Initiaor and in Dynamic Discovery tab, I entered the ip adress of the 2 network adapter of the target.

I enable the iscsi trafic on the esx-firewall
[root@blade1-4 sbin]# esxcfg-swiscsi -q
Software iSCSI is enabled
[root@blade1-4 sbin]# esxcfg-firewall -q swISCSIClient
Service swISCSIClient is blocked.
[root@blade1-4 sbin]# esxcfg-firewall -e swISCSIClient
[root@blade1-4 sbin]# esxcfg-firewall -q swISCSIClient
Service swISCSIClient is enabled.

But nothing appeared in the Static Discovery tab.

Following, the target configuration.

Target side : it's a netapp filer.

I declare a lun on the netapp side. I already tested netapp luns with a RH linux. It worked on the same server.

f-filer*> igroup show
gvmware-iscsi (iSCSI) (ostype: vmware):
iqn.1998-01.com.vmware:blade1-4 (not logged in)
f-filer*> lun show
/vol/luns_linux/blade1-4/lun1 40.0g (42953867264) (r/w, online, mapped)
f-filer*> options iscsi
iscsi.enable on
iscsi.isns.rev 22
iscsi.max_connections_per_session use_system_default
iscsi.max_error_recovery_level use_system_default

f-filer*> iscsi interface show
Interface e0c enabled
Interface e0d enabled
Interface e1a disabled
Interface e1b disabled
Interface e2a disabled
Interface e2b disabled
Interface giga0 disabled

f-filer*> ifconfig e0c
e0c: flags=4948043<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,TCPCKSUM,NOWINS> mtu 1500
inet 10.0.0.1 netmask 0xfffffe00 broadcast 10.0.1.255
ether 00:a0:98:02:60:b0 (auto-1000t-fd-up) flowcontrol full
f-tst3020b*> ifconfig e0d
e0d: flags=4948043<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,TCPCKSUM,NOWINS> mtu 1500
inet 10.0.0.2 netmask 0xfffffe00 broadcast 10.0.1.255
ether 00:a0:98:02:60:b1 (auto-1000t-fd-up) flowcontrol full

What did I forget ?
Thanks
ML

Anyone know of a tool (or tools) to align partitions after the fact?

vvarnell — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:34:19 GMT

Hi all,

I am looking for a tool, tool set or procedure to align partitions after they have already been created, formatted and populated with data. I use Knoppix and the QPartd utility to resize partitions today so this is where the idea comes from.

Why? I am looking at tools and methods for migrating from ESX 2.x to 3.0.1. Candidates are the vmotion migration strategy, VMware Converter tool and the backup-restore method. The first two are fast and limit downtime but don't align partitions, the third can be used to align partitions but is slow and cumbersome.

I am looking at VM's running SQL, Oracle, Exchange, file and print, Citrix and numerous other applications. Some volumes up to 250GB in size as well.

Ideas? Thoughts? Well wishes?

VwV

Oops. I forgot to add that I found some products on Google but am looking for suggestions based upon experience rather than via search engine .

Message was edited by:
vvarnell

why not AIX on ESX, the fame vmware server

kumaresh11 — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 05:00:49 GMT

am not sure if there is a ESX server that can install aix in it like sun and linux

Looking for slides/doc on how Vmotion handles ARP cache

freestyle — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 01:40:39 GMT

I am looking for some technical reference to what vmotion does. Step by step, low level.

I am sure there's been something at one of the vmworld's or TSX events. If anyone knows please can you post a reply.

HELP!! VMware ESX3 Won't come up after power failure

avrohomg — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:11:18 GMT

I had a power failure this morning that was long enough to drain my UPS. My ESX3 with 2 Virtual Machines went down. I just checked it and it is stuck at a Reovery Console. I get all green lights (OKs) except for the last one where it tells me that it's unable to find the file system. Has anyone ever experienced it? Any ideas?
Thanks!!

DR in a SAN Replication Environment

vmotion21 — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:45:24 GMT

Hi,

I have a test environment with four esx servers and two DMX3 connected. The vmfs volume is replicated with SRDF/Synchronous. VM are started on each site.

LVM Parameters on my ESX servers are :
LVM.DisableSnapShotLun to 0
EnableDiskResignature to 1

When I introduce a failover and that I rescan LUN is renamed <snap000003 originaldatastorename >, up to here everything is well
But when I introduce the failback, LUN are renamed <snap000004 originaldatastorename > and I cannot start any more my VM.
It is impossible to rename LUN like <originaldatastorename> because it already exists...
If I want to start my VM I must remove all my VM from the Inventory and rescan them after. Furthermore I also loses all files in which I placed my VM.

I have also try these parameters, for which I had the following message :
LVM.DisableSnapShotLun to 1
EnableDiskResignature to 0
"LVM: 4903 vmha1:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide" .

Help me!!!!

Cannot vmotion RHEL4 guest?

donlee — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:23:53 GMT

I just tried to vmotion a guest and got the error back:
"The guest operating system 'rhel4Guest' is not supported."
is there a vmotion compatibility matrix for guest operating systems somewhere?
thanks
Don

esxtop and pCPU used

Gabrie — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:56:24 GMT

Hi

In ESX2 using esxtop you could see on which pCPU the VM was running. I can't seem to find this option in ESX3.

Gabrie

3.0.1 MS Cluster config -- cannot uninstall 4Gb vmware scsi driver

Goatie — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 02:02:44 GMT

Hi all,
I'm attempting a Microsoft cluster using 2003 server.
I found this document: 1560391 detailing how I need to uninstall the 4Gb fibre driver and install the 2Gb driver.

When I follow the instructions and do a vmkload_mod -l I get the following (only showing the qlogic driver for clarity)

Name R/O Addr Length R/W Addr Length ID Loaded
qla2300_707 0x7d3000 0x44000 0x1edd748 0x72000 4 Yes

I mounted the 3.0.1 CDROM and found the RPM's. the corresponding RPM seems to be:
VMware-esx-drivers-scsi-qla2300-v7.07-7.7.4.1vmw-32039.i386.rpm

Now, when I do: rpm -e <rpm driver above>
I get the following:
error: package VMware-esx-drivers-scsi-qla2300-v7.07-7.7.4.1vmw-32039.i386.rpm is not installed

I also tried: rpm -q *rpm* | grep "is installed"
and I don't get anything!! all the RPMs are showing that they are not installed. argh!

Any clues??? or am I just going about this the wrong way (not totally linux literate yet)

Cheers

Steve.

VCB restore help

flamingemu — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:12:57 GMT

Hello,

I'm been struggling to get VCB working (with Legato Networker), but I've made progress. I can backup a VM, but I'm having trouble with the restoration. Quickly, here's my scenario:

ServerA (VCB proxy) can successfully backup a VM through ServerB (VirtualCenter machine) using a local account I created on ServerB. This snapshot is being dumped to the E: drive of ServerA during the backup process. When I try to restore the snapshot to the E: drive of ServerA, it keeps giving me the following errors:

E:\vm_backups\serverC-fullVM\catalog recover: Cannot recover `E:\vm_backups\serverC-fullVM\catalog' -- must be owner

This "must be owner" error repeats for every file in the restore job it tries to restore. It creates the folder, but won't write any files to it. I'm sure it's some kind of a permissions issue, but I don't know where to look now. Is there a special way or account to use in Networker when doing the restore?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

RapidApp's Quick start Guide to 3.0: Finally available.

citrix_guy — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:54:22 GMT

After a couple of months of waiting for Vmware to do something with it, we have decided to go ahead and push it out... It is available in electronic format (PDF) and book format from LuLu.com (the fastest way we could find to get it out to anyone as normal publishing takes 3-6 months): http://www.lulu.com/content/712361

Anyway. Hopefully you guys enjoy, and with some updates we are collecting and maybe even stuff from some of the forums members we will be able to continue to update this through 3.1, 3.2 3.x etc.
Comments, additions, new cool ideas, ideas for new how tos can be sent to: quickstartguide [at] rapidapp.com

Thanks from the RapidApp Egnineering staff.

Ron Oglesby

Is ESX Server itself a 32bit or 64bit operating system

TG1 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:03:56 GMT

I need to find out if theesx installation itself is 32bit or 64bit
Can I get some help?

Consolidated Backup Error: Failed to export the disk: The request could not

Albin Penic — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:38:48 GMT

Can anybody help me with this issue. Backup from proxy machine start normal and finsh with error. I post Level 6 log:

[2007-02-28 15:12:06.468 'App' 3776 info] Current working directory: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework
[2007-02-28 15:12:06.500 'vcbMounter' 3776 trivia] Initializing SSL context
[2007-02-28 15:12:06.500 'BaseLibs' 3776 info] Using system libcrypto, version 90703F

[2007-02-28 15:12:06.859 'App' 3776 info] Vmacore::InitSSL: doVersionCheck = true, handshakeTimeoutUs = 120000000
[2007-02-28 15:12:06.859 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Connecting to host VIRTUAL CENTER on port 902

[2007-02-28 15:12:07.109 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] Connected to stream: [class Vmacore::Ssl::SSLStreamImpl:016E39D8]
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.109 'BaseLibs' 3896 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-02-28 15:12:07.250 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Authenticating user USERNAME
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.468 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Logged in!
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.468 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Performing SearchIndex find.
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.687 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Attempting index search.
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.687 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Found VM using index search.
[2007-02-28 15:12:07.687 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Got VM MoRef
[2007-02-28 15:12:08.484 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Got access method
[2007-02-28 15:12:08.484 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Got coordinator object
[2007-02-28 15:12:08.484 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Attempting data access.
[2007-02-28 15:12:08.671 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] No snapshot info for this VM, nothing to do.
[2007-02-28 15:12:08.671 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Creating snapshot
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.406 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Snapshot created, ID: snapshot-160
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.406 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Mount operation created snapshot.
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.484 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] Found a device: vim.vm.device.VirtualLsiLogicController
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.484 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] Found a device: vim.vm.device.VirtualDisk
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.515 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Mount operation obtained backup info.
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.515 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Creating export directory
[2007-02-28 15:12:11.515 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Writing restore config file
[2007-02-28 15:12:16.109 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Exporting VM config files
Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk/VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk.vmx":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk/VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk.nvram":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk//vmware-3.log":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk//vmware-1.log":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk//vmware-2.log":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk//vmware-4.log":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

Copying "[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk//vmware.log":
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************

[2007-02-28 15:12:16.765 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Exporting disks
[2007-02-28 15:12:16.765 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Filenames: blklst://snapshot-160[SAN_DISK3_TEST] VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk/VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk.vmdk@vm-vc.izum.pri?USERNAME/PASSWORD --> c:\mnt\fullvm\scsi0-0-0-VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk.vmdk
[2007-02-28 15:12:20.718 'BlockList' 3776 info] Establishing new connection for vm-vc.izum.pri:USERNAME
[2007-02-28 15:12:20.718 'blocklist' 3776 trivia] Initializing SSL context
[2007-02-28 15:12:20.718 'blocklist' 3776 info] Connecting to host vm-vc.izum.pri on port 902

[2007-02-28 15:12:20.953 'blocklist' 3776 verbose] Connected to stream: [class Vmacore::Ssl::SSLStreamImpl:016F0FA0]
[2007-02-28 15:12:20.953 'BaseLibs' 3900 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-02-28 15:12:20.984 'blocklist' 3776 info] Authenticating user USERNAME
[2007-02-28 15:12:21.140 'blocklist' 3776 info] Logged in!
Converting "c:\mnt\fullvm\scsi0-0-0-VMPortali-CLONE2-SANDisk.vmdk" (compact file):
0%=====================50%=====================100%
**************************************************
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.046 'BlockList' 3776 info] Closing connection vm-vc.izum.pri:izumpri\sbadm
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.062 'App' 3776 verbose] Got vmdb error -14 (Pipe connection has been broken) when invoking [logout] on [vim.SessionManager:SessionManager]
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'BlockList' 3776 warning] Could not log out (vm-vc.izum.pri:izumpri\sbadm)
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'App' 3776 verbose] Got vmdb error -14 (Pipe connection has been broken) when invoking [logout] on [vim.SessionManager:SessionManager]
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'blocklist' 3776 info] Error on logout (ignored): vmodl.fault.HostNotReachable
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'blocklist' 3776 verbose] Shutting down VMDB service...
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'blocklist' 3776 verbose] Unregistering callback...
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'blocklist' 3776 verbose] ...done
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'vcbMounter' 3776 error] Error: Failed to export the disk: The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error
[2007-02-28 15:12:28.078 'vcbMounter' 3776 error] An error occured, cleaning up...
[2007-02-28 15:12:31.437 'App' 3776 verbose] Got vmdb error -14 (Pipe connection has been broken) when invoking [logout] on [vim.SessionManager:SessionManager]
[2007-02-28 15:12:31.437 'vcbMounter' 3776 info] Error on logout (ignored): vmodl.fault.HostNotReachable
[2007-02-28 15:12:31.437 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] Shutting down VMDB service...
[2007-02-28 15:12:31.437 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] Unregistering callback...
[2007-02-28 15:12:31.437 'vcbMounter' 3776 verbose] ...done

Installing ESX Patches in Scripted Install

virtech — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:50:11 GMT

Has anyone tired installing ESX 3.0.1 patches in their scripted installation before running any post install jobs.?

Easy question: Adding new ESX server to existing cluster of ESX servers.

Vitaly91 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:33:18 GMT

Guys,

I have a new ESX box with live VMs on it. It has been added to VC.
I also have a cluster of 3 other existing ESX boxes that are in the cluster and connected to the same VC.

To my understanding, all I need to do is disconnect the new ESX box from VC and re-connect it to the VC placing it into the existing cluster. Am I correct or am I missing something?

Also, I think I can do this without affecting live running VMs. Correct?

Thank you for help!

Can anyone confirm if the Tyan K8WE works with ESX3?

chillyhead — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:42:01 GMT

I am debating selling my HP server to build a whitebox system. I would like to get a Tyan K8WE Opteron board and load it with RAM. I cant seem to find anyone here who has succesfully got ESX3 running on this chipset with a SCSI drive or NFS volume attached. Anyone out there?

If this does not work, then I was leaning towards building a Xeon Woodcrest system. As long as ESX supports it.

The idea here is after I have learned ESX on this box, I could then use it as a powerful desktop. Thanks!

esx 3 and sata

johncpu515 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:31:59 GMT

i just ordered a new dell server with a sata raid. Will i be able to install esx on it and create vm's?

thanks,
john

Problem with ESX Server console freezes

Jim_Keats — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:27:05 GMT

First off, I'm brand new to the VMware world, so forgive me if this is a "dumb" question.

I have installed ESX Server v3.0.1 on two Dell PowerEdge 6850 servers. I access these servers remotely through an Avocent KVM.

When I boot up the servers, things work fine for about 5 minutes. After that, I cannot enter any key-strokes other than the Alt-F1 and Alt-F11 macros that allow me to enter/leave the console.

If I connect directly to the servers, I still cannot type...so I do not believe that the problem is with the KVM.

The servers use a USB keyboard/mouse combination.

Any ideas what the problem is?

Thanks in advance,

- Jim

ESX3 - How to backup or snapshot host-only VMs through the Host?

drheim — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:25:26 GMT

We have several VMs that are host-only. Basically these VMs are on the same host, but only talk to each other and for security reasons can not communicate out to our corporate network. When we try to run vcbMounter or basically export the vmdk file to consolidated backup like all the other VMs it will not work because the Virtual Center server can not ping or communicate with the VMs as they are host-only. With ESX 2.5 I could run the command from the console to do this manually and then script it, but when I try to run any of the vcb commands like vcbSnapShot it must go out and communicate to the VM from our Virtual Center server which does not have a connection to the host-only VMs. Anyone know of a way to take a snapshot without needing to go through the a Virtuall Center box?

Repairing VMFS3 Filesystem

dblake15 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:57:58 GMT

I am booting my VI3 host up and it is failing at checking filesystem for COS and then asking me to either press Ctrl + D or enter root password. When I enter the root password it brings me to a filesystem 1 prompt. Is there an easy way to repair this filesystem??

Thanks in advance

Clone timeout in vi3 environment

SyverDude — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:19:58 GMT

I am having problems cloning in the vi3 environment.

vcenter is in a central datacenter.

I am trying to clone from an Esx 2.5 server that is shut down to an ESX 3.0.1 server .

both systems are in a remote datacenter but the clone process is between the 2 systems that are both in the remote datacenter.

Any ideas? . . . . Thanks, Jon

Which patches are we required to install for 3.0.1?

plsntn_rules — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:24:22 GMT

Total newbie to ESX 3.01.
We are running build 32039.
How does vmware patching work?
Is the latest patch a roll up of previous patches along with some new patches or are we required to run each patch separately?

The current list of patches are the following:

ESX-1271657 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-1917602 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-2031037 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-2092658 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-3996003 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-5497987 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-6075798 Patch | 01/31/07 | General Patch
ESX-2066306 Patch | 12/28/06 | Critical Patch
ESX-6921838 Patch | 12/28/06 | General Patch
ESX-8173580 Patch | 12/28/06 | General Patch
ESX-9986131 Patch | 12/28/06 | Security Patch
ESX-1006511 Patch | 11/30/06 | Critical Patch
ESX-1410076 Patch | 11/30/06 | Critical Patch
ESX-2158032 Patch | 11/30/06 | Critical Patch

Any help as alwys greatly aprreciated.

Processor Architecture

Curdasss — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:07:03 GMT

Hello all, I'm going to be building a new VI3 box, and I don't really want to dump money into old technology. I have 2 HP DL360 G4p's with 2 CPU's each. I'm looking at buying a DL360 G5 with 2 dual CPU's. I want to use DRS but I'm concerned that the processor architecture may be to different and may not allow DRS to take place.

I guess my question is does anyone have any experience mixing non dual core CPU's with dual core CPU's in a DRS cluster? Thank You

VCB on proxy failed for file-level backup with BackupExec

pgmn6 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:46:27 GMT

Hi,

I test the VCB with BackupExec 9.1 on my proxy server and the file-level backup doesn't work. I'm able to backup a full VM mode with vcbMounter and with BackupExec but not the browsing option.

When I try with vcbMounter in command line :

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework>vcbmounter -h vcenter:905 -u administrateur -p xxxx -a ipaddr:demo-ts01 -r c:\mnt\demo-ts01 -t file -m san -L 6 > c:\command.txt

I receive this in the log :

[2007-03-01 10:32:11.296 'App' 864 info] Current working directory: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Consolidated Backup Framework
[2007-03-01 10:32:11.296 'vcbMounter' 864 trivia] Initializing SSL context
[2007-03-01 10:32:11.296 'BaseLibs' 864 info] Using system libcrypto, version 90703F

[2007-03-01 10:32:11.750 'App' 864 info] Vmacore::InitSSL: doVersionCheck = true, handshakeTimeoutUs = 120000000
[2007-03-01 10:32:11.750 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Connecting to host vcenter on port 905

[2007-03-01 10:32:11.968 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] Connected to stream: [class Vmacore::Ssl::SSLStreamImpl:01673B90]
[2007-03-01 10:32:11.968 'BaseLibs' 3580 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-01 10:32:12.000 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Authenticating user administrateur
[2007-03-01 10:32:12.171 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Logged in!
[2007-03-01 10:32:12.203 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Performing SearchIndex find.
[2007-03-01 10:32:12.390 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Attempting index search.
[2007-03-01 10:32:12.390 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Found VM using index search.
[2007-03-01 10:32:12.390 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Got VM MoRef
[2007-03-01 10:32:13.078 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Got access method
[2007-03-01 10:32:13.078 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Got coordinator object
[2007-03-01 10:32:13.078 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Attempting data access.
[2007-03-01 10:32:13.265 'vcbMounter' 864 info] No snapshot info for this VM, nothing to do.
[2007-03-01 10:32:13.265 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Creating snapshot
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.625 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Snapshot created, ID: snapshot-1283
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.625 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Mount operation created snapshot.
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.671 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] Found a device: vim.vm.device.VirtualLsiLogicController
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.671 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] Found a device: vim.vm.device.VirtualDisk
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.703 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Mount operation obtained backup info.
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.937 'vcbMounter' 864 error] Error: La rÃÂ©fÃÂ©rence d'objet n'est pas dÃÂ©finie ÃÂ une instance d'un objet.
[2007-03-01 10:32:18.937 'vcbMounter' 864 error] An error occured, cleaning up...[2007-03-01 10:32:32.203 'App' 864 verbose] Got vmdb error -14 (Pipe connection has been broken) when invoking [logout] on [vim.SessionManager:SessionManager]
[2007-03-01 10:32:32.203 'vcbMounter' 864 info] Error on logout (ignored): vmodl.fault.HostNotReachable
[2007-03-01 10:32:32.203 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] Shutting down VMDB service...
[2007-03-01 10:32:32.203 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] Unregistering callback...
[2007-03-01 10:32:32.203 'vcbMounter' 864 verbose] ...done

When I use the file-level in Backup Exec, I put in the selection list, the path : C:\mnt\demo-ts01\letters.
The job start, a snapshot is created for the VM and is removed at the same moment and the VM is not mounted in the C:\mnt directory.

The log file of the pre-command :

[2007-03-01 10:12:53.703 'App' 3520 info] Current working directory: C:\Program Files\VERITAS\Backup Exec\NT
[2007-03-01 10:12:54.734 'BaseLibs' 2496 warning] [Vmdb_Unset] Unsetting unknown path: /vmomi/

[2007-03-01 10:13:07.625 'vcbMounter' 3520 error] Error: La rÃÂ©fÃÂ©rence d'objet n'est pas dÃÂ©finie ÃÂ une instance d'un objet.
[2007-03-01 10:13:07.625 'vcbMounter' 3520 error] An error occured, cleaning up...
failed to prepare demo-ts01 for backup, PrepareForBackup() returned error 1
External command failed. See error above.
Exit Code: 1

It's not the FQDN for the VM name, I have tested with full name, IP address and UUID and I have the same error

Anybody have this problem ?

Thanks

TWO VCB for the same ESX Cluster

BlueDragon — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:33:17 GMT

Hi,

I would like to know if someone has already play with this type of topology :

My ESX Cluster is composed of four ESX Server.
The same cluster run VM for production purpose and VM for Dev. purpose.
The production VM are on a "production" LUN
The dev. VM are on a "Dev" LUN
(so, there's different LUN for the different environnement).

I would like to do the following :
one VCB, called "Production" VCB, connected to the "Production" LUN
the other VCB, called "Dev" VCB, connected to the "Dev" LUN

1 - You can't say that i only need one VCB (the two environnements have distinct backup strategy needs). you must use two VCB
2 - You can't say that i must have two ESX Cluster, because this solution is too expensive

So
Have you some idea of the possibilities to run 2 different VCB on the same ESX Cluster, when each VCB has only a attachement to the right LUN (Prod or dev).

Thanx for replies !

new interface

rhbourque — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:43:53 GMT

Wow what a difference in the new VI interface versus the old vmware remote console. Some parts are great. But i have found the new interface to be slower than the old one. I am asking the general users here if they have found the same thing. I am on a 10/100 versus 10/100/1000 (which the old one is on). I am hoping once i move it to gigabit it will speed up. But i just wanted to ask the users here if they have seen a difference in speed.

Thanks ahead of time.

Randy

DiskTimeout and iSCSI (EQL)

Yps — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:35:04 GMT

Hi!

I have tested to failover a iSCSI LUN to the standby path in VMWare.
It takes about 41-47s to failover a LUN to standby path if I reboot one of the network switches. Is it normal?
It takes no time to failback to preferred path.

To get rid of disk error in event log, I have to change disktimeout value from 60 to 90s.

IÂ´m using one PS400E, Qlogic 4052 and 2 Cisco 3750.

Best Regards, Magnus

DST Change - Something Is Messed Up

DanM — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:04:02 GMT

Hi All,

I'm running ESX 2.5.4 at a client's site and we're checking to make sure the DST change won't bite us. Now just as a heads-up, Bermuda is following the new DST
Problem is that I think we've been misplaced/forgotten about.

Let's look at New York for a sanity check:

[root@ESX04-DR local-vmfs]# zdump -v /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York | grep 2007
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York Sun Mar 11 06:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 01:59:59 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York Sun Mar 11 07:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 03:00:00 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York Sun Nov 4 05:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:59:59 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/New_York Sun Nov 4 06:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:00:00 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000

Ok, now Bermuda:

[root@ESX04-DR local-vmfs]# zdump -v /usr/share/zoneinfo/Atlantic/Bermuda | grep 2007
/usr/share/zoneinfo/Atlantic/Bermuda Sun Apr 1 05:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Apr 1 01:59:59 2007 AST isdst=0 gmtoff=-14400
/usr/share/zoneinfo/Atlantic/Bermuda Sun Apr 1 06:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Apr 1 03:00:00 2007 ADT isdst=1 gmtoff=-10800
/usr/share/zoneinfo/Atlantic/Bermuda Sun Oct 28 04:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Oct 28 01:59:59 2007 ADT isdst=1 gmtoff=-10800
/usr/share/zoneinfo/Atlantic/Bermuda Sun Oct 28 05:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Oct 28 01:00:00 2007 AST isdst=0 gmtoff=-14400

Uh-oh... Halifax, NS is in the same timezone as Bermuda, let's see what it's showing:

/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Halifax Sun Mar 11 05:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 01:59:59 2007 AST isdst=0 gmtoff=-14400
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Halifax Sun Mar 11 06:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 03:00:00 2007 ADT isdst=1 gmtoff=-10800
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Halifax Sun Nov 4 04:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:59:59 2007 ADT isdst=1 gmtoff=-10800
/usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Halifax Sun Nov 4 05:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:00:00 2007 AST isdst=0 gmtoff=-14400

Looking for advice on how to best deal with this issue.
Also can someone confirm this goof-up in ESX 3.0.1 as well please?

Cheers,
D.

Two VCB sharing the same ESX LUN for backup purpose

BlueDragon — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:24:13 GMT

Hi,

I would like to know if vmware support the following configuration:

i need 2 VCB connected to the same LUN.
On this Lun there is 10 VM.
One VCB backpup 5 VM, while the other VCB backup the 5 other VM.

Is it possible ?
Is it supported by vmware ?

I need this configuration because my client use Control-M and has multiple C\^M environnement configured for the VM in a same ESX Cluster (say 5VM in Production C^M environnement, and 5VM in dev. C^M Environnement)

If you have some best-practices or answer about this, please post,
Thanx !

Vlan for VMOTION VI3

Boudeboi — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:56:00 GMT

Hi all

I would like to know if i must use 1 dedicated VLAN VMOTION per datacenter or i can use 1 dedicated VLAN VMOTION for all my datacenters?

6 ESX per datacenter.

Thanks

Boudeboi.

Overprovisioning with NFS-Stores?

MrPhoenix — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:10:01 GMT

Hi there!

I'm using NFS-Stores with ESX3.0.1 and VC2.0.1
Recently I added some Harddisks to my VMs on one NFS-Datastore.
The Datastore has 100GB Space in total and I added 3 virtual disks with the size of 50, 40 and 10GB. As you can see I used 100GB of diskspace.
The interesting thing is, that my VC reports that there are still 49GB free Space on that datastore!
So what to do now? Imaging that somebody adds another virtual disk to that datastore and needs some GB there. I will run out of diskspace and my VMs will crash I suppose.
So how to turn this "overprovisioning" off? Or do I even see a bug in VC here?

Regards,
Philipp

esx 3.0.0 won't boot after adding second internal logical drive

Chris_S_UK — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 08:48:14 GMT

I have this config/problem:

-IBM x366 with Serveraid 8i controller
-3 internal disks in a RAID5 setup

So 1 logical drive (LUN, I suppose) and ESX is working absolutely fine.

I powered off the host, added 3 more disks internally (same size/type/speed as existing 3), powered on, controller saw 3 new disks, booted into ServeRaid Manager and created new RAID5 array, rebooted, controller saw 2 logical drives instead of the aforementioned 1.

So all OK up to this point. However, ESX won't boot with this config. The startup hangs quite early on when trying to load "aacraid". Interestingly, this controller has a feature called 'data scrubbing' which causes all the disks' lights to flash constantly and these actually go out when the boot hangs.

Removing the second array/lun/logical drive/call it what you will restores a working ESX system.

I've logged a call with VMware but, two days later, am still waiting for a response. We have Platinum support so I'm not particularly impressed.

Anyone have any idea why it's hanging here with the 2nd LUN configured?

Thanks
Chris

Assigning IP to physical NIC

femialpha — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:39:02 GMT

I am trying to troubleshoot some networking issues in a remote datacenter but my network guy can not find the mac address of the physical nic. Is is possible to assign an ip address to the nic so the mac populates the arp table?

Thanks.

image for SCSI driver for XP won't fit on a 1.44M floppy

thornef — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:18:24 GMT

Hi there,

I am trying to run a repair on a guest machine running Windows XP but the install wont find the disks without the SCSI drivers being installed.

I cant install VMware Tools as the machine wont boot into windows.

I have found the file vmscsi-1.2.0.4.flp but this image doesnt fit on a floppy disk

Does anybody have any ideas.

Thanks
Francis

Simple Question Regarding NFS Mounting VMIMAGES

dballing — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:45:16 GMT

I've read various threads which all touch on this, but I'd like to try and get it into one, simple, focused response:

Q: What do I need to do so that I can mount my NFS share, which has all of my ISOs, etc., somewhere that I would be able to then see it from VirtualCenter so that I can mount up any CD images, etc., which I need to deploy?

In 2.5.x this was *trivial*, and in 3.x it appears to be *nightmarish* so help me out here.

NTP not synchronized while configuration is ok

zemotard — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 08:05:36 GMT

Hi, could you explain me why a I always serveral difference second between my ntp server an my esx ?

The configuration is well done, but how can I know the date of the last synchronization between this server ?
But when I forced this with the command "hwclock --systohc" I have always a difference.
But if I restart service (service ntpd restart)the time is exactly the same.

Must I to plan a restart of this service in the crontab ?

Regards

Steps to Altiris a VM station.

digitalex — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 20:37:38 GMT

Anyone know if you can use Altiris to backup a VM station? When I do it says "A bootworks or PXE stamp could be found". Do I need to create a custom PXE boot disk before I can image the system? Any guides or help I would appreciate. I am using Altiris Rapid Deployment pack 6.1 sp1.

NIC not being displayed within ESX

pmccready — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 10:31:52 GMT

Hi

I have installed ESX 3.0.1 on a number of Dell 2950 servers. I have installed Intel quad port NICs in each of the servers but these are not recognised and displayed by ESX.

There are two on board NIC which are correctly displayed as NIC0 and NIC1 but the 4 interfaces from the PCI NIC are not displayed.

How can i get ESX to recognise these interfaces?

Thanks

Clustering Question

msadexchman — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:44:29 GMT

Hello,

I've set up multiple Windows SQL Clusters where I have two physical servers and a VM on each server. This time however, I have a single physical server so I need to configure a "cluster in a box". I'm running into issues creating the shared disks. I'm following the "Setup for MSCS" pdf from vmware, but it won't work. This is what I'm doing.

I created the two VM's and installed the OS on both
On Node 1, I went in to add a virtual disk. I selected "Raw Mapped Lun" and put it in "virtual" compatibility mode then changed the new disk controller SCSI bus sharing to "Virtual". That disk was added fine.

When I go to Node 2, instead of choosing "Raw Mapped Lun", I'm choosing "use existing virtual disk" per the instructions but when I browse the datastore and look under Node 1 for the disk file, it's empty. If I use WinSCP3 to browse the datastore, I can see the disk files??

Is this the correct way I should be setting it up and if so, how come I can't see the disk files?

Many thanks

vcbproxy doing only a single vmdk from a VM

nanfeldt — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:54:14 GMT

Hi,

I was wondering if it is possible to use vcbmounter to retrieve only a single vmdk file from a VM that actually has 2 configured?

is currently using the following (in a single line):

vcbmounter.exe
-h adm-vc01.servers.lan
-u vcadministrator -p ********
-a ipaddr:adm-fil01.servers.lan
-r c:\mnt\adm-fil01\c
-t fullvm
-m san

But it generates to much data since im only interested in one of the diskfiles

Hope someone can help

vpxa crashes during cold migration

peter67 — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:35:25 GMT

Hello!

We use VC 2.0.1 and ESX 3.0.1 on IBM x3650 and x3850. The problem occurs on each host.
I create a VM on a SAN volume. When I migrate this VM to the same host and only relocate the configuration file to the host vmfs, the vpxa on ESX host crashes.
I see following messages in /var/log/message:

Feb 16 09:05:28 dldesx13 watchdog-vpxa: '/usr/sbin/vpxa' exited after 430 seconds
Feb 16 09:05:28 dldesx13 watchdog-vpxa: Executing '/usr/sbin/vpxa'
Feb 16 09:05:30 dldesx13 /usr/lib/vmware/hostd/vmware-hostd[1242]: Accepted password for user vpxuser from 127.0.0.1

In /var/log/vmware/vpx/vpx.log I see following:
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.100 'BaseLibs' 3820464 info] Stub: Preference_GetBool called
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.196 'BaseLibs' 3820464 info] Stub: Preference_GetBool called
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.345 'BaseLibs' 3820464 info] Stub: Preference_GetBool called
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.348 'App' 3820464 info] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-27 -- -- [vpxa:reserveName]
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.442 'App' 63761328 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-28 -- -- [vpxa:nfcCopy]
########## --> Logfile Rotation <-- ############
Log for VMware VirtualCenter, pid=11191, version=2.0.1, build=build-32042, option=Release, section=2
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.755 'App' 3076473760 info] Current working directory: /var/log/vmware/vpx
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.756 'App' 3076473760 info] Initializing SSL context
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.756 'BaseLibs' 3076473760 info] Using system libcrypto, version 90701F
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.757 'App' 3076473760 info] Vmacore::InitSSL: doVersionCheck = false, handshakeTimeoutUs = 120000000
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.759 'BaseLibs' 3076473760 info] Removing stale symlink /var/run/vmware/vmware%2dvpxa
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.759 'BaseLibs' 3076473760 info] Stub: Preference_GetBool called
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.759 'App' 3076473760 info] Starting VMware VirtualCenter Agent Daemon 2.0.1 build-32042
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 32 max LROs
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 0 reserved internal LROs
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 0 reserved blocker LROs
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 6 reserved short LROs
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 2 reserved long LROs
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.760 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxLRO] 600-second task lifetime
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.766 'App' 3076473760 info] [VpxaInvtHost] Manager IP: 192.168.152.37:902 Host IP: 192.168.153.50
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.766 'VmdbAdapter' 3076473760 info] Using new VMDB VMOMI serialization format
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.767 'BaseLibs' 3076473760 info] Stub: LocalConfig_GetPathName called
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.787 'Memory checker' 3076473760 info] Check resources every 30 secs, soft limit 76800, hard limit 128000.
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.787 'Handle checker' 3076473760 info] Setting system limit of 1024
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.787 'Handle checker' 3076473760 info] Set system limit to 1024
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.991 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-internal-1 -- -- [vpxa:retrieveTaskManager]
[2007-02-16 09:05:28.992 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-1 -- -- [vpxa:retrieveTaskManager]
[2007-02-16 09:05:29.639 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-internal-2 -- -- [vpxa:getChanges]
[2007-02-16 09:05:31.825 'BaseLibs' 20536240 info] NFC connection accept timeout: 180000 milliseconds
[2007-02-16 09:05:31.825 'BaseLibs' 20536240 info] NFC request timeout: 180000 milliseconds
[2007-02-16 09:05:31.825 'BaseLibs' 20536240 info] NFC read timeout: 60000 milliseconds
[2007-02-16 09:05:31.825 'BaseLibs' 20536240 info] NFC write timeout: 600000 milliseconds
[2007-02-16 09:05:34.097 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-2 -- -- [vpxa:getChanges]
[2007-02-16 09:05:35.139 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-internal-3 -- -- [vpxa:setConfig]
[2007-02-16 09:05:35.143 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-3 -- -- [vpxa:setConfig]
[2007-02-16 09:05:35.512 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-internal-4 -- -- [vpxa:getChanges]
[2007-02-16 09:05:36.334 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- FINISH task-internal-4 -- -- [vpxa:getChanges]
[2007-02-16 09:05:42.533 'App' 20536240 info] [VpxLRO] -- BEGIN task-internal-6 -- -- [vpxa:getChanges]

Thans in advance!
Peter

Flash copy of a mirror drive?

LasseHT — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:58:59 GMT

Hi,

We have two IBM DS4800 SAN's (one at HQ the other at our own DR site).

The VM production datastores(LUN's) are mirrored to the DR site.

At the DR site we have a small VMware cluster and the idea is that if the worst should happen we can simply break the mirrors and add the replicated datastores to the VMware cluster and add the VM's one by one and we are up and running again. This is in a true DR situation.

For test we have a none routed v-lan that the VMware cluster also can access. In order to test I was going to "fake" a mirror break by creating a flash copy of the mirror drive and add the flashcopy datastore(LUN) to the VMware cluster at the DR site. I get as far as adding the LUN, but it does not see the datastore on it. why?

LUN, and block sizes.. Easy Q

ALK- ABELLO — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:30:40 GMT

Hi everyone.

When using the default block size on a VMFS3 LUN (1MB), files above the size of 256GB can not be stored... right?

Do this max size only apply to the files stored, or does it also apply to the max size of the entire VMFS3 LUN? I'm a bit confused from all the reading

Thanks..

/Rubeck

Message was edited by:
RDPetruska
Removed emoticon from subject line

MSA 1000 Connection Lost

VCPMa — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 19:57:30 GMT

Hello @all,

today we have a blackout with our ESX enviroment, i donÂ´t know why but
the ESX Server has lost the connection to our MSA 1000 and all VMÂ´s crashed.

Only a MSA power off has resolved the Problem, first i have try to fix the problem with a ESX Server reboot but with no result.

It is a very alarming situation, can somebody help me to locate the source of error (ESX/hba or MSA) ??

I have a ESX 3.0.1 environment (8 VMÂ´s running) and 1 MSA1000.

Thanks for help

VCPMa

network configuration best practice ?

postmaster@redcross-fr.be — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:15:00 GMT

Hi,
we run virtual center solution onto a ibm blade center with 4 blades. Each blad have 2 NICs, the first one connected to the first internal switch and the second NIC to the second internal switch of the blade. Each internal switch is connected trough a etherchannel on a different cisco gigabit switch. The two external switches are linked to a root backbone switch.
I have setup 2 virtual switches each one connected to a different physical NIC of the ESX.
I think to setup my virtual machine with 2 virtual NIC each one binded to one different virtual switch.
How to setup the failover into the virtual machine (W2K3) ? I don't need loadbalancing but only failover. use of BASP like virtual adapter into the VM ?
Is this architecture the best one ?

problems hitting a vi3 host via client

13erla — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 02:05:41 GMT

i have an esx301 host i can't seem to hit via the VC (not responding)

if i try to connect directly to the host the connection times out.
i can ping the console port no probs.. the hosts vms are fine.
i can ssh the box also no problems.

how can i restart the console port without effecting the VMs?
my vms are on their own dedicated NICs.. nothing runs over the console port besides console.

IBM BladeCenter HS21 blades, 2 NICs 2 Switches NO REDUNDANCY?

shaaad — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:16:24 GMT

My goal is to achieve redundancy to all aspects of ESX running on our blades, but we only have 2 NICs to work with per blade. Each NIC also plugs into a seperate switch on the backplane, so the uplinks on the internal switches will be going to seperate core switches.

We need to support the Service Console, VMotion, and VMs with multiple tagged virtual switches. I'm not positive what all of my options are.

I am pretty sure that regardless of what configuration we come up with, it's going to be dodgy.

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

ISCSI configuration question

Gaprofitt — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 01:53:22 GMT

HI All,

The company I work for currently has everything on a Class A 255.0.0.0 network. I'm no network wiz but this doesn't seem like a good plan but it's unlikely i'll be able to change it.What I am wondering is because of this will I be able to isolate ISCSI from the current Class A network?

Cloning VMs without Virtual Center Server on ESX 3.0

s.railey@comcast.net — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:53:11 GMT

I am trying to copy a virtual mahine without the Virtual Center Server.

I have created a new virtual machine through the gui and trying to attach the hard drive to a .vmdk that I copied from another machine. The .vmdk file is not listed when I browse the the new location of the file. Any ideas what I am doing wrong?

Thank,

Steve

Problem Upgrading VMFS2 to VMFS3

jn2007 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:50:45 GMT

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to VMWare and Linux and did quite a bit of search but nothing is similar to my problem.

Scenario:

I backed up several VMs from 2.5.3 and I did a fresh installed of VI3. After the install. I restored the VMs of 2.5.3 to the VI3 volume. For several VMs (about 15GB each), I was able to move them from VIC to the VMFS3 datastore and upgrade them and they work fine. There is one VM (about 500GB) that I'm unable to move to VMFS3 datastorage due to limited space available and also unable to upgrade to VMFS3 due to its size. Here's the error:

Error during the configuration of the host: System call "ConverttofS3" failed with code 27: File too large and message unable to upgrade file system

The current VMFS2 volume is Read Only and cannot delete the other already migrated VMs.

How do I go about either upgrading the whole VMFS2 volume to VMFS3? I would want to delete the already migrated VMs from the VMFS2 volume eventually to free up more space.

I don't have VC installed.

Appreciate for any help!
Jack

Unloading VMFS2

Spiker — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:02:10 GMT

VMware suggest removing VMFS2 drivers to improve SAN performance in ESX3

quote
If you have a lot of LUNs/VMFS volumes, and all of them are VMFSâ3, you can
potentially improve performance by unloading the VMFSâ2 driver. At a commandâline
prompt, type:
vmkload_mod -u vmfs2
A significant increase in the speed of certain management operations like refreshing
datastores and rescanning storage adapters should result.
endquote

Has anyone done this - I am interested as to whether its worth doing in production ?

Thanks

VM Usage

RParker — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 23:19:56 GMT

I am pretty sure this has been posted before, but I couldn't figure out where the results were.

Is there a way to determine (reliably) when a VM was last used. Not how long it's been in existence, running, or when the last time it was rebooted, but the last time ANY login activity was recorded.

I realize I can simply look at the system even viewer, but that get's very time consuming when you are talking 100 VM's or more.

So does anyone know of a way to see from the console, or some web based program that ties into VC, to tell from a glance when the last time a VM was actually used?

This is becoming a growing problem, and I think there could be a potential new product here if someone can successfully figure this out. I went to the VM User Group Meeting on Tues in Atlanta, and a few people were nodding in agreement that there needs to be a way to track this type of usage.

Thanks.

SAN space - can see it under storage adapters but not showing up

kreischl — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:23:18 GMT

Installed a new server (3.01) and I can see my two datastore LUNS when I refreshed my Storage Adapters but if I goto the Storage (SCSI, SAN and NFS) area I don't see them as vmfs3 volumes (I did hit refresh). Did I miss a step? This is my fourth server...I could have sworn that was all I needed to do.

Message was edited by:
kreischl

Partition Alignment Question......

MichaelJKnight — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:18:42 GMT

Hi,

Quick question for any Vmware/SAN Gurus out there....

Reading the recommendations for Aligning VMFS Partitions http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx3_partition_align.pdf

Our SAN team has recommended we change the Allocation Unit when formating some windows disks to 64K.

Should we adjust the starting offset during the diskpar operation to 128 so the offset is then 64K rather than the 32K ?

Hope that makes sense....

Michael.

vi3 exam

mouloudb — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:55:27 GMT

Hi

I passed my VI3 exam in december but I didn't receive my certificate from VMware but I have my old certificate of ESX 2.5. is vmware send a certificate about VI3 or it is the same as esx 2?

Regards

Mouloud

More RAM for COS, how to configure ??

christianZ — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:05:39 GMT

My cos seems to swap a little (only 256 MB Ram).

How can I configure more RAM for it ?
Maybe in System Resource Allocation / Advanced - not sure here.

Thanks.

Forget to mention ESX 3.0.1 here.

Message was edited by:
christianZ

HA Primary and secondary

Spiker — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:59:52 GMT

Hi

I have set up HA with multiple ESX servers - yet I hear that some are considered primary and some secondary ?

How do I identify which are P and S and what difference does this have on their function ?

Need help on figuring out the best way to move a VM from site-to-site

smiley14 — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:10:44 GMT

I am trying to figure out the best way on moving a VM from one site to another for DR reasons. Site-to-site is currently connected via full T1 and copying vmdk files across the link takes days if not weeks depending on the size of the vmdk file.

I currently have a storage on one site that will be moved to the DR site. I have connected the storage via iSCSI as a datastore for the vmhost and copied vm's to it. However, when disconnected from the vmhost and connected to another vmhost, it gets erased all the time because vmhost reformats new datastore connection. I thought I can get away by doing this but apparently not.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Error on DL585

mouloudb — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 08:21:40 GMT

Hi

When I boot the ESX 3 connect to Symmetrix DMX800 I receive the following Errors.

23 06:18:47 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: TSC: 12624774641 cpu0:0)WARNING: NUMA: 606: Memory is incorrectly balanced between the NUMA nodes of this system, which will lead to poor performance. See /proc/vmware/NUMA/hardware for details on your current memory configuration

Oct 23 08:36:34 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:18:54.923 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:34 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:18:54.929 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:34 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:18:54.935 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:34 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:18:54.940 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:3:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:45 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:05.625 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:45 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:05.631 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:45 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:05.639 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:45 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:05.649 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:3:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:51 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:12.193 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:51 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:12.199 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:51 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:12.211 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:36:51 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:12.222 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:3:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.334 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.346 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.358 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.369 cpu1:1037)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:3:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.400 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.412 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.423 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:06 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.435 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:3:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:07 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.541 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:0:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:07 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.553 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:1:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:07 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel: 0:02:19:27.559 cpu4:1038)ALERT: LVM: 4903: vmhba2:0:2:1 may be snapshot: disabling access. See resignaturing section in SAN config guide.

Oct 23 08:37:07 ESXNTE0002 vmkernel:

Can please direct me on how to solve this error appearing when I login on the console as root.

Thank you

Regards

Mouloud

VMKernel/SC on same subnet as iSCSI HBA?

Yps — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:39:18 GMT

Hi!

Do I need setup VMKernel and SC on our iSCSI subnet ? I am using Qlogic 4052. Or do I only need VMkernel?

Best Regards, Magnus

HA - VMAchines aremigrated but not Powered ON

Crac — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:49:28 GMT

Hello All,

I've been stuck on this all day..just can't figure it out.
I am currently testing HA.
For this purpose I have the following la :
2 ESX in a cluster (Biproc ; 12Gb RAM)
4 VMachines , 2 on each ESX host.
A cluster with only HA enabled, (1 host failure tolerance)

My 4 VMs are running, and when I shutdown one host, I can see the 2 VMs on that host being shutdown and migrated to the other host, but they fail to be powered on.
I get the "Insufficient resources to statisfy HA blahblah constraints" on my cluster, which DOES have 10 times the resources to power them up.

I controlled the host file, read all I found on this forum, rebooted everything, reconfigured HA, destroyed and recreated the cluster. Nothing.

Any ideas?

By the way : Esx 3.0.1 ; VC 2.0.1

Many thanks !

using VMotion on a 100 Mbps LAN

Addagats — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:41:42 GMT

Hi,

I would like to know if anyone tried to use VMotion with 100 Mbps LAN? I read that VMotion needs 1 Gig network but no where its mentioned that its mandatory to have 1 Gig.

Just want to know if it works even with 100 Mbps??

Thanks

vcbMounter or vcbSnapAll

EG045947 — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 06:04:17 GMT

Hi together,

I want to backup the vm sessions on my two ESX servers. The question is what command for the backup I should use? vcbMounter or vcbSnapAll?

thx,
Alexander

Masking Vs Zoning

Spiker — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:13:40 GMT

Ok Im confused !

The san config guide states that Zoning controls which HBA connects to which SP - ok

It then states that Masking controls which host connects to which LUN at the SP level

What is the difference ?

Black VM console screen

koit — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:05:59 GMT

I have a problem with black console screens on VMs running on a ESX 3.0.1 server.
When I connect to the console it shows only a black screen.
When I boot VMs they starts up normal cause I can connect through RDP but I can't see the console screen.

I have given the VMX files the correct rights (R & X)
I can't even see the vmware bios logo.
Does anyone have a solution for this problem?

Regards
Bernt

ESX 3.0.1 - Open a new port on firewall

Luca Laghi — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:38:54 GMT

Hi,
I must to open the incoming port 34571 on the esx firewall to manage a IBM serveraid adapter.

How can I do it?

Thank

vswitch and vlan tagging

neo_italy — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 12:53:47 GMT

Hi all,
i have some blade servers with only two nic, i need to create two vswitch, or two vlan in the same switch, that will use only one nic.
The question is: to manage/separate the traffic of the two vlans, but coming out from the same nic, i need to tag the frames, how can i tag from Esx?

Many Thanks

Bus logic vc lsi logic

Spiker — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 11:57:11 GMT

Hi

Just a quick question

I understand that Buslogic and LSIlogic are the only 2 virtual SCSI type devices that can be used by guest operating systems.

What is the difference between them ?

can anyone help me?

romi — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:16:39 GMT

Hi all,
I am very new to esx server. just started using it. I want to do nic teaming. i have teamed two vmnic ( having private interface cable) under a switch called vswitch1.

Now can any one tell me how to assign ip address to this teamed interface. Please help me.

Thanks in advance.

Shared SAN disk for 2 VMs on ESX 3

planetman — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 05:48:19 GMT

Hi, I am new to VMWare and have just installed trial versions of ESX3 on 2 HP DL380 servers both with access to our HP EVA SAN. I have created a LUN on the SAN which I want 2 virtual machines (running Windows 2003 server) to be able to access so that they can both read and write to it and both see the same shared data. I got it so the 2 VMs could see the LUN as , but when I wrote some data to the LUN (which both VMs saw as their E drive) on one VM the other server could not see it - and vice versa.

I added the LUN as a physical disk on both VMs using the Infrastructure Client GUI, presumably as a Raw Disk Mapping, but no matter what I have tried I cannot get it to work. Am I doing something wrong or is it just not possible to have 2 virtual servers accessing a shared disk like this?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Mark

ESX 3.0 Server client install

Niels83 — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:35:27 GMT

Hello,

I have a problem whit deploying a SBS 2003 for a ISO file. I can not place my ISO file in vmimages folder. No rights to do that. And I can not brouws to a other folder when i select the CD station.

Where do i need to place my ISO files?
And how do i get there form te cd station selection screen?

Please let me know.

Regards,

Niels

Virtual machine Memory usage alert.

zhangfred_vm — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:15:36 GMT

I have 2.5G memory for the host and I assign 1996MB to the VM which runs the windows server 2003 enterprise vesion.

but it throws the red message <Virtual machine Memory usage alert>

I think the memory is enough, but why I get the alert message?

Does it concern with the undeleted swamp files?

iscsi vSwitch question

ISD Plc — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:48:01 GMT

I have created a vswitch for iscsi traffic for the guest os's now do I need to have a vmkernel in there or is that just needed for iscsi traffic directly to the esx host server?

SOLVED: (kickstart install) to be able to add uplinks in active/standby

rzuber — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 10:41:47 GMT

Problem:
We need in our automatic ESX provisionning (kickstart install) to be able to add uplinks to a vSwitch in active/standby mode and not active/active as it is by default w/ "esxcfg-vswitch -L vmnic0 vSwitch0".
Is there any hidden arguments to this command in order to add/modify uplinks teaming mode without using "VirtualInfrastructure Client" ?
If no argument to this command is able to do this operation, is there any configuration file we can tweak in order to change teaming mode ?

Help: Can not login to esx via VC Client or Web

orring — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 15:36:50 GMT

I had an issue with my licencing where by when I removed an esx server from VC2 it would not reclaim back all the licences, I had read that I may have to restart the licence server which I did but now when I access one of the esx hosts via VC it says "failed to communicate with the remote host, either due to network errors or because the host is not responding"

Also if I try to connect directly to the machine Via the client it say "connection failed"

Also the web site for the machine does not display.

The SSH clinet works and I can ping out from the machine to the VC machine

All VM's are still running.

Any ideas?

A Vitual Machine becomes orphaned

zhangfred_vm — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:15:11 GMT

Hi Friends,

I successfully use the Convert Center 3.0, convert one windows 2K phsyical sytem to the ESX server 3.0.1 host.

but when I restart the ESX server host, the VM status becomes orphaned and can't be power on

How to power on this orphaned and what reson may cause the VM orphaned?

vmfs2 "Address already in use"

MrPhoenix — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 12:20:49 GMT

Hi folks,

I've got a problem with one of my vmfs-volumes. I can't create new vmdk-files (new VMs) on it nor is it possible to copy or move existing files on it.

At the console I get the error message "Address already in use" if do one fo the above actions.
The Volume is on a SAN shared to 4 ESX-Server 2.5.3. There are some VMs running on it.
I read some things about this issue and running "vmkfstools -R" but don't want to interrupt the running VMs.
Is it possible to reboot one ESX after another to get this thing done or doesn't that help?

Regards,
Philipp

Maintenance mode through script or scheduled task

Ronnan — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:10:11 GMT

Does anyone now how you can set a server into maintenance mode through a script or scheduled task.

Explain the directories when A VM is created

zhangfred_vm — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:15:29 GMT

Could you help to Explain the directories when a VM is created?

/vmfs/volumes/

What is the Vmotion network and how to configure it

zhangfred_vm — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:19:21 GMT

If you want to use DRS for load balancing, the hosts in your cluster must be part of a VMotion network. If the hosts are not in the VMotion network, DRS can still make initial placement recommendations.

What is the VMotion network, does it has different IP address with the nomal VM NIC?

Cannot connect Virtual Infrastructure client or SSH - web ok

nuw — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 01:08:01 GMT

Hi all,

We have ESX 3 installed and we can usually connect to it using SSH or through our VI clients.

The issue we are having is that we cannot SSH directly into the server at all, but we can open an SSH session on another server, then SSH from that server to our ESX server. I have tried restarting SSH on the ESX server and it hasn't helped.

We can intermittently connect our VI client for a while, then it drops the connection.

Other times the VI client does not connect at all and we get the error message "Cannot connect to host HOSTNAME A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond"

Connecting through the web interface is fine.
All of the Virtual Machines are fine too, we can terminal service into them without any problems and they are functioning as they should.

Due to intermittent nature, could it be a memory issue on the ESX server?

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

nuw

Another Citrix / VMWare Post

SHaynes — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 19:26:22 GMT

So everybody says don't run Citrix on VMWare for production use. Too late.

I have IBM HS20 blades each running 8GB memory and dual processors. I have two Citrix servers per blade. CTXServer1 is assigned to Processors 0,1 (Hyperthreading is enabled) and CTXServer2 is assigned to Processors 2,3. I have very active users who do all of their work through Citrix, so I thought I set a realistic goal of 22 - 25 users per processor. I can easily get this many people on and everything seems to work fine (logons are slow but bare with me.) All of a sudden the cpu utillization will go out the roof. The app using up the cpu is usually iexplorer.exe, explore.exe, or spooler.exe. This can happen once an hour, once a day or once a week on each server. It is very random.

Now what is weird is that the app is not hung. The person with the offending app has no problem with it. It just greatly slows all other processes for other users down. This "hang" can last for 5 minutes or more. If the app finishes what it was doing or the app is closed the computer plays catch up with other processes for a little bit and then everything returns to normal.

One of the things that is sure to cause a problem is performing a Windows Explorer search on a mapped drive or copying files from a mapped drive to another mapped drive or a local drive. Hence the slow logins caused by copying the users profiles (or so I think.) I have not done extensive ESXTOP research but I am pretty sure that disk utilization is pretty low and during normal operation %Ready times are low.

Is this the kind of thing everybody is seeing with Citrix on VMWare? Has anybody found little tweaks that help? Is there any monitoring that I can set up that might point me at the root of the problem?

Thanks for any input.

Console memory usage spiked - how to identify?

kreischl — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:30:07 GMT

I got an alert today from our NMS that one of our servers had its console memory spike to 90% of threshold. It went from 675MB to 741MB and I have it set to 800MB.

27-Feb-07 10:30 AM 675817472
27-Feb-07 11:00 AM 741701632

I ran esxtop in memory mode and I don't see anything that would show why the console memory usage spiked up. No vmotions took place either. Any suggestions?

FREE stats:

[root@blade05 root]# free
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 799420 727344 72076 0 171312 279496
-/+ buffers/cache: 276536 522884
Swap: 2048248 0 2048248

esxtop in memory mode:

11:28:50am up 7 days, 23:05, 64 worlds; MEM overcommit average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
PMEM (MB): 8191 total: 800 cos, 160 vmk, 2567 other, 4662 free
VMKMEM (MB): 7231 managed: 433 minfree, 1679 rsvd, 5469 ursvd, high state
COSMEM (MB): 70 free: 2000 swap_t, 2000 swap_f: 0.00 r/s, 0.00 w/s
PSHARE (MB): 697 shared, 169 common: 528 saving
SWAP (MB): 3 curr, 0 target: 0.00 r/s, 0.00 w/s
MEMCTL (MB): 0 curr, 0 target, 1990 max

ID GID NAME NMEM MEMSZ SZTGT TCHD %ACTV %ACTVS %ACTVF %ACTVN
15 15 vmware-vmkauthd 1 2.20 2.20 0.34 0 0 0 0
18 18 L-VM-000051 5 256.00 332.43 81.92 16 18 18 6
20 20 L-VM-000044 5 256.00 331.91 61.44 26 17 23 8
32 32 OES7 5 512.00 574.64 30.72 5 2 4 3
36 36 L-VM-000047 5 256.00 332.40 64.00 10 11 10 7
38 38 PLATESPIN 5 768.00 769.74 92.16 12 9 11 8
43 43 MFFIN 5 1024.00 924.84 81.92 2 4 2 8

Message was edited by:
kreischl

ibm blade center HS20 + 4 port cisco giga eth switch module configuration

porrasus1 — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 23:07:58 GMT

Hi:

In order to maximize available bandwith we are considering bonding the two visible NICS into a virtual switch so we can load balance traffic and have 2 GB aggregate bandwith shared for the console and virtual machines.

Do you know if this configration is valid in this enviroment or I just can use bonding for failover??

Thanks

ESX 3.0.1 Hangs

kas1013 — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 21:32:01 GMT

I have an install that hangs on boot at

hub.c new USB hub found
hub.c 2 port detected

This is with an ibm ls21 blade and bladecenter H with 4gb qlogic card. I changed the drivers to 2 gb and trying to do boot from SAN. If i give the blade the media tray I hang at.

SCSI0: SCSI Emulation for USB Mass storage devices.

Any thoughts?

VI Patches

glenny — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:28:23 GMT

Are ESX 3.x patches cumulative? Just wanting to know if I can apply the latest patch posted on 12/28/2006 and be covered for all of them.

Also, I assume from what I'm reading that DST changes are already incorporated into the release?

Thanks!